The Best Beaches in Zanzibar

Zanzibar

varies enormously

from area to area

choose your beach location with care

The scenery and especially the beaches around Zanzibar vary enormously around different parts of the island.

The East Coast contains the most iconic beaches, with long stretches of white sand, protected by a fringing reef and extensive coral lagoon.

The West Coast does not have a fringing reef and the beaches on this side are generally much less appealing.

The other major factor is the style and density of lodge development. Some areas remain blissfully undeveloped, with small lodges dispersed amongst the palm trees. Other areas are heavily developed with wall-to-wall resorts.

If you are looking for a really pristine location, then we recommend you look at the nearby islands, including Pemba Island and Mafia Island, as well as the private islands of Mnemba Island Lodge and Fanjove Island.

Key locations …

Set on the northeast coast of Zanzibar Island, Matemwe is a very beautiful stretch of white-sand beach, with an excellent range of guest accommodation in smaller and more intimate properties, offering a wide range of marine and cultural experiences. Very strong for diving.

good lodges and strong diving

Go to Matemwe

Set on the east coast of Zanzibar Island, Pongwe is a peaceful area of stunning coves and pretty small beaches, with guest accommodation in a handful of decent lodges, offering a wide range of marine and cultural activities.

beautiful coves and good lodges

Go to Pongwe

Set on the southeast coast of Zanzibar Island, Michamvi is a pleasantly remote beach area, with guest accommodation in several good quality lodges, offering a wide range of marine and cultural experiences. Less strong for diving.

a pleasantly remote beach area

Go to Michamvi

Set on the southwest coast of Zanzibar Island, Bwejuu is a stretch of the famous East Coast beaches, with guest accommodation in a good range of lodges and resorts, offering a wide range of marine and cultural experiences.

home to the best beach resorts

Go to Bwejuu

Set on the southeast coast of Zanzibar Island, Paje is a stunning kite-surfing beach, with guest accommodation in a handful of busy guesthouses and decent lodges, offering a wide range of marine and cultural activities.

a great location for kite-surfing

Go to Paje

Set on the west coast of Zanzibar Island, Stone Town is a fabulously historic and chaotic place, with guest accommodation in a wide range of characterful hotels, offering a wide range of largely cultural and historical activities.

historic, fascinating, atmospheric and chaotic

Go to Stone Town

Set on the northeast coast of Zanzibar Island, Kiwengwa is a beautiful stretch of beach, where guest accommodation is dominated by larger Italian resorts, but with a couple of decent smaller lodges in between, offering a wide range of marine and cultural experiences.

dominated by big Italian hotels

Go to Kiwengwa

Set on the southwest coast of Zanzibar Island, Jambiani is a pleasant and authentic village area, with guest accommodation in several simple and lower cost lodges, offering a wide range of marine and cultural experiences.

a pleasantly authentic part of the east coast

Go to Jambiani

The southwest of Zanzibar is a relatively quiet stretch of coastline with much lesser beaches than the East Coast, but with superb diving in a major marine reserve. Guest accommodation is in only a handful of lodges, some quite high quality, offering a wide range of marine and cultural activities.

the bleak and windy southeast

Go to Kizimkazi

Set on the northwest coast of Zanzibar Island, Kendwa is a beautiful and unusually non-tidal beach, with guest accommodation in a hectic collection of properties, dominated by larger resorts, offering a wide range of marine and cultural experiences.

beautiful non-tidal beach, but busy

Go to Kendwa

Set on the northwest tip of Zanzibar Island, Nungwi is a traditional fishing village which has become dwarfed by a vast range of lower quality guesthouses and larger resorts, offering a wide range of marine and cultural experiences.

busy and over-developed area

Go to Nungwi

Set in the remote northeast of Peru, Iquitos is the gateway to the Amazon River and the Pacaya Samiria Reserve, an area which is largely explored on small, high quality live-aboard cruise boats. Certainly a much easier experience than the Tambopata area further south, but with a lesser focus on major wildlife sightings.

an interesting private island lodge

Go to Stone Town South

Set on the northwest coast of Zanzibar Island, Fumba is a pleasant backwater, with guest accommodation in just one good quality lodge, offering a wide range of marine and cultural experiences. Easy access to the marine park and Stone Town. Lesser beaches.